Adhesive closure for plastic film bags

ABSTRACT

A container comprising a bag having a closed bottom and a top provided with an open mouth. A lock band is secured TO the bag at the bottom thereof and extends along the middle of the bag to at least the top thereof. A coating of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided on the face of the lock band adjacent the bag.

United States Patent 1191 Marchesani Apr. 23, 1974 ADHESIVE CLOSURE FOR PLASTIC FILM BAGS [75] Inventor: Cesare N. Marchesani, Union City,

[73] Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 226,060

52 us. on. 229/62 51 Int. Cl B65d 33/00 58 Field at Search 229/62, 63, 48 SB, 51 WE; 150/3, 43

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 273,902 3/1883 Shirley 229/62 X 3,565,738 2/1971 Kirkpatrick.

2,510,120 6/1950 Leander 229/48 SB UX 3,047,206 7/1962 Monahan 229/62 X 3,107,842 l0/l963 Guilfoyle 229/62 3,301,466 1/1967 Perino 229/62 599,219 2/1898 Bunker 229/62 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 27,085 12/1904 Great Britain 229/62 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Herbert S. Sylvester; Murray M. Grill; Normon Blumenkopf 5 7] ABSTRACT A container comprising a bag having a closed bottom and a top provided with an open mouth. A lock band is secured TO the bag at the bottom thereof and extends along the middle of the bag to at least the top thereof. A coating of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided on the face of the lock band adjacent the bag.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 23 \924 ADHESIVE CLOSURE FOR PLASTIC FILM BAGS This invention relates to containers, such as those especially adapted for packaging perishable foodstuffs, including sandwiches and the like, and of the type generally known as poly-bags and which have been sold under the trademark Baggies,and preferably made out of thin transparent synthetic plastic film.

In the past various types of containers made of thin transparent synthetic plastic film, such as polyethylene film, and known generally as poly-bags have been manufactured. Various types of ties have been used to close these bags in a substantially air-tight manner. However, because of the fact that various size foodstuffs are usu ally inserted in these bags, different size ties have been needed. When these ties are made-separately from the bags, they often become misplaced or'lost and are no longer available. The present invention provides for a container in the form of a poly-bag having a lock band secured to the bottom thereof and permanently bonded or heat sealed thereto with the other end remaining free. In this manner the lock band may be secured across the folded section of the bag after it has been arranged to tightly embrace the sandwich or foodstuff therein.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a container having a lock band which is secured to the bottom of a poly-bag and extends along the middle thereof perpendicular to the bottom and to the mouth.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a lock band which may be constructed out of readily available materials and which may vary in size or dimension while eliminating the need for expensive separate tie bands. V

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a container such as a poly-bag which employs a lock band for facilitating the opening the reclosing thereof and which may be manufactured in a manner so as to be readily adapted for mass production while increasing the functional volume of the bag and allowing the odd shaped item placed in the container to retain its normal shape.

Stillfurther objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of an adhesive closure for plastic film bags which employs a lock band having a suitable coating of pressure sensitive adhesive thereon and which may be dispensed from a roll or stack of bags with each bag.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this adhesive closure for plastic film bags, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container in accordance with the present invention showing the lock band separate from the poly-bag;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional detail view in an enlarged scale of a portion of the lock band;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the manner in which a sandwich may be inserted in the poly-bag;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a completed package of a sandwich within the container;

FIG. 6 is a partial detail elevational view of one embodiment of tie band showing transverse strips of pressure sensitive adhesive on the lock band;

FIG. 7 is a partial elevational detail view of another form of lock band employing a plurality of longitudinally extending strips; and,

FIG. 8 is a partial elevational detail view of yet another embodiment of lock band employing discrete geometrical figures of pressure sensitive adhesive.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a container constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention which includes a bag 12 of polyethylene or other thin transparent synthetic plastic film, which is heat sealed at the bottom 14 thereof and which may be heat sealedat one or more of its sides 16 and 18 and which has an open mouth 20 at the top 22 thereof. These plastic film bags 12 are usually manufactured in roll form and readily detach from each other and are known generally as poly-bags. Separate tie bands are usually provided for these polybags which may become lost or misplaced and in any event are of relatively expensive construction. I

In accordance with the concept of this invention, lock bands 24 are provided, which may be inexpensively made from embossed paper, foil, polyethylene, or the like, and may have the bottomend 26 bonded to the bottom 14 of the bag with its upperend 28 remaining free. Alternatively, if the lock band 24 is made of polyethylene or like substance which is heat sealable to the substance of the bag 12,'the lock band may be heat sealed as at 30 to the bottom 14 of the bag 12. The lock band 24 extends parallel to the sides 16 and 18 and perpendicular to the bottom 14 and the top 22 of the bag and preferably terminates flush with the mouth 20. The lock band 24 extends along the middle of the bag spaced between the sides 16 and 18 and has a coating 32 of pressure sensitive adhesive on the face thereof adjacent the bag 12. The coating 32 may be in the form of a single longitudinally extending strip 32 or, as shown in FIG. 6, the coating may be in the form of parallel transverse strips 34.

In FIG. 7 there is shown an arrangement wherein the coating includes three parallel longitudinal strips 36. Of course, two strips or more than three may be used if such is considered desirable.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement wherein the coating is in the form of discrete geometrical FIGS. 36. In the embodiment of FIG. 8 these geometrical figures are circular. Of course, triangles, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, and other regular or irregular geometrical figures or letters can be used as desired.

When the poly-bag 12, according to the invention, is used, the bag is opened and the content desired to be protected, a sandwich, for example, is placed inside through the mouth 20. The lock band 24 is peeled back and the open end is folded closed by as many small folds as desired for tightness. Then, the lock band 24 is placed around and across the folded section of the bag with the adhesive coating 32 securely holding the lock band in place.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention may be em- What is claimed is:

l. A container comprising a bag having a closed heat sealed bottom, an open mouth at the top thereof, and a front and back wall, said bag being formed of flexible and foldable material, a separate deformable lock band on only one of said walls heat sealed to said bottom and extending to said mouth and being foldable to said top to adhesively close said bag.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said lock band is bonded to said bag and extends along the middle thereof and terminates at said top.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said lock band is heat sealed to said bag only at said bottom and extends along the middle thereof.

4. A container according to claim 1, including a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive on the face thereof adjacent said bag.

5. A container according to claim 3, including a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive on the face thereof adjacent said bag.

6. A container according to claim 4, wherein said coating includes at least one elongated strip extending from the bottom of said lock band to the top thereof.

7. A container according to claim 4, wherein said coating includes a plurality of strips extending transversely of said lock band.

8. A container according to claim 4, wherein'said coating includes a plurality of discrete geometrical figures. 

1. A container comprising a bag having a closed heat sealed bottom, an open mouth at the top thereof, and a front and back wall, said bag being formed of flexible and foldable material, a separate deformable lock band on only one of said walls heat sealed to said bottom and extending to said mouth and being foldable to said top to adhesively close said bag.
 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said lock band is bonded to said bag and extends along the middle thereof and terminates at said top.
 3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said lock band is heat sealed to said bag only at said bottom and extends along the middle thereof.
 4. A container according to claim 1, including a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive on the face thereof adjacent said bag.
 5. A container according to claim 3, including a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive on the face thereof adjacent said bag.
 6. A container according to claim 4, wherein said coating includes at least one elongated strip extending from the bottom of said lock band to the top thereof.
 7. A container according to claim 4, wherein said coating includes a plurality of strips extending transversely of said lock band.
 8. A container according to claim 4, wherein said coating includes a plurality of discrete geometrical figures. 